Collocation 2

Question 1

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Then the school began to go through a difficult period and had to -dismiss staff

Answer 1

lay off

Question 2

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I managed to -make a special position- for myself as a specialist in dermatology

Answer 2

(carve a niche for myself)

Question 3

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I did a job swap for a year with -someone doing the same job- in a different location

Answer 3

(my opposite number)

Question 4

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I went back to my old job and also -started work- as an editor of a leading medical journal

Answer 4

(took up the post)

Question 5

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I was put on a fast-track scheme and was -promoted very fast-

Answer 5

(moving up the ladder)

Question 6

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I felt that I needed to -give importance to the right aspects of life-

Answer 6

(get my priorities right)

Question 7

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I decided that -other aspects of my life should be more important than my work-

Answer 7

(take priority over)

Question 8

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He was certainly -dismissed- at ARG under mysterious circumstances

Answer 8

(relieved of his duties)

Question 9

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Fair enough. He must -have a lot of courage- to risk losing his own livelihood

Answer 9

(strength of character)

Question 10

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So could we pencil in a meeting for considering the references? And then I’d better leave you and go and deal with the papers before -I leave work-.

Answer 10

(clear the desk)

Question 11

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He’ll just have to -pretend to be sick- from time to time

Answer 11

(throw a sickie)

Question 12

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He feels there might be some prospects for him there eventually, even if he was just being -worked in terrible condition- at the moment

Answer 12

(used as sweated labour)

Question 13

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I hope so. But they have a very high turnover of staff and it won’t be easy from him to -remain there until he is successful-

Answer 13

(stay the course)

Question 14

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I am going to -make a very forcible complaint-.

Answer 14

(kick up such a fuss).

Question 15

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And I’ll certainly -take my custom elsewhere in future-

Answer 15

(not buy from the same place again).

Question 16

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I -believe- that we are all responsible for our own actions

Answer 16

(take the view)

Question 17

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It’s -absolutely certain- that Jaime will win the race

Answer 17

(a foregone conclusion)

Question 18

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I don’t -hold the opinion- that nature and nurture are of equal significance, but it is now a widespread belief

Answer 18

(subscribe to the theory)

Question 19

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-People hold different views- as to whether mothers of young children should go out to work or not, but -I am totally convinced- that different things suit different families

Answer 19

(opinion are divided; it is my firm conviction)

Question 20

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Don’t be -too critical of him-. He really couldn’t have done things differently.

Answer 20

(judge…harshly)

Question 21

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Deciding to set up a business now shows -a bad assessment- of the economic situation

Answer 21

(poor judgement)

Question 22

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Di’s quick to -criticise other people- but she’s far from perfect herself

Answer 22

(pass judgement on)

Question 23

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I finally agreed to go out with him, -despite the knowledge that it was a bad idea-

Answer 23

(against my better judgement)

Question 24

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Promoting Alec was -a serious bad decision-.

Answer 24

(error of judgement)

Question 25

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We can approaching the problem in -an imaginative and original way-.

Answer 25

(thinking laterally)

Question 26

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Someone has a f_______ imagination

Answer 26

(fertile)

Question 27

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Struggle to find a solution

Answer 27

(wrestle with a problem)

Question 28

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An unpleasant feeling of doubt that -will not go away-

Answer 28

(nagging doubt)

Question 29

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His resignation encourages people to consider that an imminent cabinet reshuffle may be true

Answer 29

(fuels speculation)

Question 30

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Conditions at the time provided -encouraging setting -for revolutionary movements

Answer 30

(fertile ground)

Question 31

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The directors feel that development will -bring advantages- for everyone living in the area

Answer 31

(pay dividends)

Question 32

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This hike in prices will seriously alter -the net income-

Answer 32

(affect the bottom line)

Question 33

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We have set ourselves clear objectives and are confident we will still be able to -spend more than we have earned-

Answer 33

(balance the books)

Question 34

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We have no intention of -going bankrupt-

Answer 34

(calling in the receivers)

Question 35

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We do what we said we would do

Answer 35

(honour all our commitments)

Question 36

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So if you feel that once of our products does not -reach appropriate standards-, then we will immediately offer you’re a replacement.

Answer 36

(come up to standards)

Question 37

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When she was a small child, Amelia’s teachers identified her as having -unusual intelligence and remarkable ability to think quickly and clearly-.

Answer 37

(mental agility)

Question 38

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She secured a place at tone the of country’s most -prestigious education institution- to read English Literature.

Answer 38

(seats of learning)

Question 39

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It is a pity that sometimes his -concentration in class is not steady-.

Answer 39

(concentration wavers)

Question 40

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He will not make any progress until he stops -being absent without permission-.

Answer 40

(playing truant)

Question 41

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The book offers -a very forceful defenc-e of free market economics and -lend support to- privatisation of all state-owned industries.

Answer 41

(vigorous defence, makes the case for)

Question 42

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The essay -takes the issues by its horns- which are of current importance in development countries.

Answer 42

(confronts issues)

Question 43

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McGraw -argues for- single-sex primary education but he fails to tackle all of the issues the opponents of this approach

Answer 43

(puts the case for)

Question 44

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Although Kristov’s book -includes a lots of area of knowledge-, it does not offer a full explanation of the events leading to the civil war. Indeed, -the main idea- of Kristov’s argument is that such an account cannot be written

Answer 44

(covers a lot of ground, the thrust of )

Question 45

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How was your weekend? My old school friend Emma came on -a visit that doesn’t last long-

Answer 45

(flying visit).

Question 46

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They thought 30 years together definitely meant that -a celebration was appropriate-

Answer 46

(called for a celebration)

Question 47

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The vicar who’d married them even -showed up for a short time-

Answer 47

(put in an appearance)

Question 48

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I was just sorry I couldn’t -spend much time to give complete attention-

Answer 48

(spend quality time)

Question 49

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It won’t be such -a very brief visit-

Answer 49

(whirlwind visit)

Question 50

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life is its usual busy -non-stop set of social events-

Answer 50

(social whirl)

Question 51

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First let me thank the County Council, on behalf of the Festival Organising Committee, for-providing the facilities for the welcome reception-

Answer 51

(playing host to)

Question 52

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You might simply want to wine and dine new business contacts in-a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere-

Answer 52

(convivial atmosphere).

Question 53

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Some conversations are not serious. They consist of -small talk-, in which the speaker just make polite conversation or share shocking -tittle-tattle- about their friends and colleagues

Answer 53

(idle chatter; exchange pleasantries)

Question 54

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Rumours are spreading fast

Answer 54

(flying around)

Question 55

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I found it vey hard to -begin a discussion-

Answer 55

(broach the subject)

Question 56

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I tried not to -attach too much importance to a point of view- for leaving and just put things as simply as I could

Answer 56

(overstate my case)

Question 57

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A remark made in order to start a conversation

Answer 57

(opening gambit)

Question 58

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Promises made without thinking

Answer 58

( rash promises)

Question 59

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Promises made which the speaker has no intention of keeping

Answer 59

(empty promises)